Method for Improving Speed and Visual Fidelity of Multi-Pose 3D Renderings

Abstract

A method and system provides increased visual fidelity in a multi-pose three-dimensional rendering of an object by overlaying edge lines. A server sends a multiplicity of two-dimensional renderings of the object to a client device over a network. Each of the 2D renderings depicts the object in a different pose. As the 2D renderings are displayed sequentially, the object appears to move, for example, by pivoting on an axis. The server also sends a multiplicity of overlay renderings to the client device. Each of the overlay renderings corresponds to a respective one of the 2D renderings and depicts edge lines that would appear on the 2D rendering. The edge lines are rendered on a transparent background such that, when a user interface combines one of the 2D renderings with the corresponding overlay rendering, the edge lines are highlighted on the 2D rendering and provide additional visual cues to the viewer.

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A method of depicting on a display a multi-pose three-dimensional (3D) rendering of an object, the method comprising:
 storing on a computer readable medium a multiplicity of two-dimensional (2D) renderings of the object, each of the multiplicity of 2D renderings depicting the object from a different apparent viewing angle;   transmitting the multiplicity of 2D renderings via a network to a client device coupled to the display;   storing on the computer readable medium a first multiplicity of overlay renderings, each of the first multiplicity of overlay renderings corresponding to a respective one of the multiplicity of 2D renderings and each overlay rendering comprising:
 (1) either (a) a shadow layer, rendered in a first color and corresponding to shadows on the object as rendered in the corresponding 2D rendering; or (b) edge lines, rendered in a first color and corresponding to the edges of the object as rendered in the corresponding 2D rendering; and 
 (2) a transparent background; 
   transmitting, separately from the multiplicity of 2D renderings, the first multiplicity of overlay renderings via the network to the client device;   providing an interface operable to display a plurality of composite images, each composite image comprising one of the first multiplicity of overlay renderings layered over its corresponding 2D rendering.   
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein storing on the computer readable medium a first multiplicity of overlay renderings comprises storing a single image file, the file storing a single image, and further wherein each of the first multiplicity of overlay renderings forms a portion of the single image. 
     
     
         69 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the provided interface is further operable to provide a control for varying the transparency of the shadow layer. 
     
     
         70 . The method according to  claim 67 , further comprising:
 transmitting a second multiplicity of overlay renderings, each of the second multiplicity of overlay renderings corresponding to one of the first multiplicity of overlay renderings and to the one of the multiplicity of 2D renderings, wherein the provided interface is further operable to sequentially display each of the multiplicity of first overlay renderings and each of the multiplicity of second overlay renderings as layers of a composite image including the corresponding 2D renderings.   
     
     
         71 . The method according to  claim 70 , wherein transmitting a second multiplicity of overlay renderings comprises transmitting a second single image file, the second single image file containing a second single image, and further wherein each of the second multiplicity of overlay renderings forms a portion of the second single image. 
     
     
         72 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the provided interface is selectively operable to sequentially display each of the multiplicity of 2D renderings instead of the corresponding composite images. 
     
     
         73 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein providing an interface comprises providing an interface operable to display each of the multiplicity of the composite images in a pre-defined sequence. 
     
     
         74 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein storing on the computer readable medium a multiplicity of overlay renderings comprises storing a single image file, the file storing a single image, and further wherein each of the multiplicity of overlay renderings forms a portion of the single image. 
     
     
         75 . The method according to  claim 74 , wherein the multiplicity of overlay renderings are arranged in the single image in order to correspond to the pre-defined sequence. 
     
     
         76 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein transmitting the overlay renderings comprises transmitting the overlay renderings prior to transmitting the multiplicity of 2D renderings. 
     
     
         77 . The method according to  claim 76 , wherein the provided interface is further operable to sequentially display each of the multiplicity of overlay renderings before the plurality of 2D renderings is completely received by the client device 
     
     
         78 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the provided interface is selectively operable to sequentially display each of the multiplicity of overlay renderings instead of the corresponding composite images. 
     
     
         79 . A system for depicting on a display a multi-pose three-dimensional (3D) rendering of an object, the system comprising:
 a database storing (1) a multiplicity of two-dimensional (2D) renderings of the object, each of the multiplicity of 2D renderings depicting the object from a different apparent viewing angle, and (2) a multiplicity of overlay renderings, each overlay rendering corresponding to a respective one of the multiplicity of 2D renderings and each overlay rendering comprising (i) either (a) a shadow layer, rendered in a first color and corresponding to the visible shadows on the object as rendered in the corresponding 2D rendering; or (b) edge lines, rendered in a first color and corresponding to the edges of the object as rendered in the corresponding 2D rendering and (ii) a transparent background;   machine executable instructions stored on a machine readable medium and specifying an interface operable to display a plurality of composite images, each composite image comprising one of the overlay renderings layered over its corresponding 2D rendering;   a server communicatively coupled to the database via a network and operable (1) to send to a client device communicatively coupled to the network the machine instructions specifying the interface and (2) to receive from the client device a request for the rendering of the object and, in response to the request, to retrieve the multiplicity of 2D renderings and the multiplicity of overlay renderings from the database and transmit the multiplicity of 2D renderings and the multiplicity of overlay renderings to the client device.   
     
     
         80 . The system of  claim 79 , wherein the multiplicity of overlay renderings is stored as a single image file, the single image file storing a single image, and further wherein each of the multiplicity overlay renderings forms a portion of the single image. 
     
     
         81 . The system according to  claim 79 , wherein the server is operable to transmit the overlay renderings prior to transmitting the multiplicity of 2D renderings. 
     
     
         82 . The system according to  claim 81 , wherein the interface transmitted by the server is further operable to sequentially display each of the multiplicity of overlay renderings before the plurality of 2D renderings is completely received by the client device. 
     
     
         83 . The system according to  claim 79 , wherein the interface transmitted by the server is selectively operable to sequentially display each of the multiplicity of overlay renderings instead of the corresponding composite images. 
     
     
         84 . The system according to  claim 79 , wherein the interface transmitted by the server is selectively operable to sequentially display each of the multiplicity of 2D renderings instead of the corresponding composite images. 
     
     
         85 . The system according to  claim 79 , wherein the interface transmitted by the server is further operable to display each of the multiplicity of images in a pre-defined sequence. 
     
     
         86 . The system according to  claim 85 , wherein the multiplicity of overlay renderings is stored as a single image file, the single image file storing a single image, and further wherein each of the multiplicity overlay renderings forms a portion of the single image.